Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Update: For the full summary of the “Juba Scandal” - click here.

For months, we’ve been hearing how Joni Juba forced the Construction Manager Selection Committee to choose Turner. Harold Smith and others have painted a picture of a backroom deal between Joni Juba and Turner Construction. In this clandestine meeting Juba makes sure that Turner gets the work and in return Turner gives Juba subcontracts on the jail and/or special treatment by Turner for future jobs.

The central point of the argument for the existence of the Juba Scandal is that Joni Juba was the one who got Turner Construction the job. That she “pushed” the committee somehow. Well, you’re about to see that argument get obliterated with a little thing that’s missing from Harold’s website - evidence:

This E-mail was Obtained from John Day
From: Joni Juba
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:07 PM
To: John Day
Subject: RE: CM at risk 

John, I replied earlier today but do not think I sent it to you, I got
sidetracked. So if this is a repeat, please excuse it. I have read
Jonathan’s email and understand his position. In light of our
discussions as a group post interview and tour, I will support the
committee’s decision to recommend Turner for the CM at risk on our
project. I think both firms bring different strengths to the table and
it’s a matter of “comfort level” for us. I still think Thompson would
probably do a more hands on approach relating to field installation
scope of work and Turner more administrative and management. If the
focus is construction oversight, then Turner is probably the best of the
two. At any rate, I will support the choice. Be sure we get all the
information we requested from Turner in our meetings as soon as
possible. Also, who will be the county staff contact person assigned to
this project to oversee from the owner’s perspective? If I can do
anything else to help, let me know.

Thanks,

J.

While working with the committee, Joni Juba was the lone holdout for Thompson construction - not Turner. When I emailed both her and John Day for clarification, she had stated that she felt that any of three respondents to the RFQ (which had been sent to 8 firms) would have done a fine job of managing the project; but she had a preference for Thompson (not Turner) due to their management style.

Nonetheless, it’s pretty obvious from this e-mail that she was not dead-set on any CM - certainly not Turner. The quoted e-mail takes out the central point in the “Juba Scandal” and casts some serious doubts on the credibility of Harold Smith and those who’ve been complicit in this whole affair…you know who you are.